Udinese took sole leadership of the Serie A standings after cruising to a 3-0 win over Novara Calcio on Sunday, thanks to two goals and an assist from Antonio Di Natale.
Di Natale broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute and Maurizio Domizzi doubled Udinese’s tally six minutes later when he headed in a corner at the near post.
Di Natale grabbed his sixth of the season four minutes into the second half with a stunning free-kick which Novara goalkeeper Alberto Maria Fontana could do nothing about.
Udinese move a point clear at the top of the table and they are now two points better off than third-placed Juventus, who drew 2-2 at home with Genoa on Saturday.
“I’m very happy with the result and our position in the table,” Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said. “We had a good game today and deserved to win ... being top is great. We can do well if we continue as we are, with the same humility and generosity.”
SS Lazio are in second following their 2-0 victory at struggling Bologna.
The visiting side took the lead in the 23rd minute when the unfortunate Robert Acquafresca tried to clear Hernanes’ free-kick, but the Bologna striker only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net.
Bologna had several chances to draw level, but they could find no way past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Lazio doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half when Djibril Cisse sent Senad Lulic clear and the Bosnian made no mistake when one-on-one with Bologna goalkeeper Federico Agliardi.
Cagliari are three points off top spot following their goalless draw with Napoli.
Either team could have won the game in a lively first half which saw both sides hit the woodwork twice.
Inter ground out a 1-0 victory at home to Chievo Verona.
Thiago Motta headed home Wesley Sneijder’s corner to hand Inter only their second win in seven league games.
AS Roma also secured a narrow 1-0 win and their victory over Palermo moves them into the top half of the table.
Erik Manuel Lamela scored the only goal of the game in the seventh minute and Roma clung on desperately to take all three points.
Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg pulled off several stunning saves, notably from Fabrizio Miccoli in stoppage-time, to secure the victory.
Cesena remain rooted to the bottom of the standings after losing 2-0 at AC Siena.
Pablo Gonzalez scored in the 10th minute and, after Cesena midfielder Antonio Candreva hit the post, Emanuele Calaio doubled Siena’s advantage eight minutes into the second half.
Elsewhere, a brace from Maxi Moralez secured Atalanta BC a 2-1 win at Parma.
All the goals came in the second half, with substitute Jaime Valdes’ strike 10 minutes from time proving no more than a consolation for Parma.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
RSS